MARQUETTE -- The headquarters of the UP 200 are now up and running at the Holiday Inn in Marquette. The communications headquarters opened on Thursday, ahead of a mandatory meeting for mushers in the afternoon.

All things race related are run through that room, from tracking the racers, to handling any problems that may arise.  The headquarters will close on Thursday night, but beginning at 7 a.m. on Friday, it will remain open 24 hours a day until the end of the race on Sunday.

A team of devoted volunteers have made it a yearly ritual to help run the operation, in part, because of their love for the sport.

"I love the mushers and the dogs," said Headquarter Coordinator Ieky Todd.  "They're just neat people; the stories they have to tell, the things they've seen out there.  I just love that stuff.  I'm an animal fanatic, I love animals."

In a neighboring room is a silent auction, which will end on Sunday.

For years the Larson family, who owns the Holiday Inn, have offered all of the banquet rooms to the UP 200 for a week, free of charge.